Visiting Breckenridge or Summit County, Colorado as a First-Time or Beginner Skier? Your Must-Know Tips are Here!
Updated for 2023-2024 Ski Season
Breckenridge Ski Resort is the number one reason that winter-time visitors come up to our beautiful little mountain town of Breckenridge, Colorado. The snow conditions and vast terrain attracts visitors from all over the world. Often, these skiers are first-timers trying out a new sport, hoping for the best. We want to help you tackle the learning curve with the best tips for beginner skiers in Breckenridge.
Every skier or snowboarder was brand new to the sport at one time in their life. For those who have never experienced skiing or snowboarding firsthand, it might appear easy to glide down the hill on skis or a board, but we promise, lessons are vital for your fun and safety! Lift tickets aren’t cheap and no one wants to get injured and have to be taken down the mountain by ski patrol Ski or snowboarding lessons will ease the learning curve or help you improve your technique if it’s been awhile since you’ve been on skis.
An experienced instructor will patiently guide you through every step of the process from locking boots into the ski or board bindings, to maneuvering flat ground, to loading and unloading a chairlift, and then finally tips on techniques for getting down the hill safely!
Depending on your group dynamics and individual budgets, beginning skiers in Breckenridge have options, one of which many people do not know about, but Breck Mountain Rentals is going to share that secret with you.
Often, in many families or groups, there are some who have skiing or riding experience while others are brand new or maybe need more practice. The Breckenridge Ski School is a great option since ski school participants can be dropped off at the school ski bases on either Peak 8 or Peak 9, while the others who have experience can head out on their own, and every one is still at the same place to meet up at the end of the day.
Group lessons for 3 and 4 year olds start at $240, for 5 and 6 year olds at $375, and for 7 to 14 year old, at $295. Adult lessons start at $210 for a full day not including the discounted lift ticket or ski rentals. Private lessons for children and adults range from $805 to $1135 per day. Groups or families of 1-6 can do a private lesson starting at family can do a private lesson together starting at $855. Lift tickets and equipment are required for all lessons but are included at a discounted add-on to the lesson price.
Add up those numbers above with lift tickets and rentals added on and it might seem impossible for many families of beginning skiers to ever give the sport a try. This is where the little-known alternative comes in…
Undoubtedly one of Summit County’s best kept secrets: Just 8 miles north of Breckenridge on Highway 9, is the small-but-mighty Frisco Adventure Park. Breckenridge visitors will drive right past it on their in from Denver on Highway 9. The tubing hill is very popular and visible from Highway 9. However, on the other side of the magic carpet is the gentle, intimidation-free, Frisco Adventure Park Ski & Ride Hill. The hill opens in December 2023 for the 2023-24 season, but closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays each week.
The Frisco Ski & Ride Hill is accessed via a magic carpet. It has two wide trails with gentle descents and is uncrowded, even on holiday weekends. There are no overhead ski lifts with onlookers from above. The lodge is so close that trips to the bathroom, snacks, or warming-up breaks can be done frequently without hassle.
Kids 4 and under can ski free on the Ski & Ride Hill with an adult who has purchased a ticket ($50-55). Kids and adults can take lessons through a Snow Schoolers ski instructor in a very small and intimate group allowing for one-on-one instruction and confidence building. Call (970) 668-2558 for reservations, tickets or information about lessons. Rentals are not included in the base prices, but are available nearby in Breckenridge or Frisco.
Have we mentioned how easy parking is? The Frisco Adventure Park Ski & Ride Hill is a no brainer for first-time or beginner skiers. We are huge fans!
The Frisco Adventure Park also offers tubing and a free sledding hill for an add-on activity or a non-skiing activity for one day of your ski vacation. When open for the season, the hill operates 10am-4pm daily, closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Reservations are required for ski or ride lessons and for tubing.
Don’t think because it’s small, there won’t be great photo ops. The views from atop the Ski & Ride Hill overlooking the town of Frisco and the southern tip of the Gore Range are beautiful!
Whether you want to go big or small, ski lessons at both Breckenridge Ski Resort and Frisco Adventure Park are the way to go for first-time skiers.
Wants even more Breckenridge ski trip tips? We’ve got a comprehensive, one-stop, Breckenridge Ski Trip Planning and Preparation guide just for you, our valued readers and vacation rentals guests.